Some homeowners bypass the permit process when they remodel their home. They may find the process too expensive or cumbersome. Permitting fees can sometimes cost hundreds of dollars or more. Some homeowners may believe that if they go ahead with a kitchen or bath remodel without a permit, they’ll likely never get caught.But failing to get a permit could be troublesome when they go to sell the home.Most states require homeowners to fil
Designing houses with features buyers want is a continuous process for the home building industry. During a Feb. 19 session at the 2019 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas, builders and designers took a break from their work to talk about some of the changes they're seeing.Curved entryway staircases step back.A curved stairway leading to the upper floor can make for a grand entrance into a home, and certainly serves as a focal poi
Spacious areas can sometimes feel cold and unwelcoming. How can you make a large living room with high ceilings feel more inviting? Houzz, a home remodeling website resource, provides some of the following tips:Leverage tall potted plants.For a room with tall ceilings, incorporate tall plants. It’ll help fill in vertical height gaps while also drawing the eyes up to help accentuate the high ceilings.Paint two-tone walls.To make the ceiling feel
Home inspections have been uncovering much-needed property repairs. More than 1 million repairs needed more than $11,000 in costs, according to a February review of 50,000 home inspection reports by Repair Pricer, a home repair estimating resource.Nearly 55 percent of homes analyzed across the country had doors that needed adjusting, which could be an indicator of foundation issues, the report showed. More than half—or 54 percent
Couples may be eager to find their perfect home. But house hunting can be stressful, and finding a property that both parties agree on can pose a challenge.A common spat that many real estate pros see? Not being able to agree on where to live. Elizabeth Gigler, broker for John Greene Realty in Naperville, Ill., told realtor.com® in a 2018 article that she once had one partner who really desired a home in a prime location while the othe
When a home inspector examines the property your buyer is under contract to purchase, you should know that there are some items the inspector legally can’t determine about its condition. Inspectors are bound by a set of rules that limit what they can share with a buyer. HouseLogic.com, the National Association of REALTORS®’ consumer-facing website, recently highlighted several points that home inspectors can’t tell a buyer about.© Peter D
Older homes often come with plenty of character and possibly even a lower price. But buying a home that has been around for a while can also mean dealing with age-related problems.RISMedia’s HouseCall has tips during the home inspection process for home shoppers to watch for before purchasing an older home, including:Watch for electrical issues.Older homes could have dated wiring and electrical panels that may not be able to keep up with t
Many parts of the U.S. have been struck with a snap of subzero temperatures. While keeping themselves warm during the bitter cold, homeowners also need to take precautions to keep their home safe, too.In Wisconsin's capital, the Madison Water Utility posted a photo on Twitter to show homeowners how a burst pipe can damage a home. The photo was taken at a vacant home in Madison. “They shut the heat off, so then the water burst up in th
People who have gone through the homebuying process are often eager to give advice. But too often, these so-called insider tips may very well be outdated.Realtor.com® recently highlighted some of the most common advice home buyers may hear from their peers that no longer applies in the current housing market, including:“Wait for spring.”Buyers shouldn’t feel like they’ll be at an advantage if they wait for the busiest season in
Homeowners could be putting themselves in more danger as they increasingly tackle home repairs themselves. Using common household tools can be dangerous, especially when it comes to ladders. Accidents involving ladders landed nearly 200,000 people in the emergency room last year, according to a new analysis from Porch.com, a home repair and maintenance website. Porch.com researchers analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surv
This website includes images sourced from third party websites including Adobe, Getty Images, and as otherwise noted.
